Automatic two-position posting mechanism



Nov. 25, 1969 R. E. KANITZ 3,480,343

' AUTOMATIC TWO-POSITION POSTING MECHANISM Filed March 20, 1968. 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR ROY E. KANITZ ATTORNEYS,

R. E. KANITZ 3,480,343

AUTOMATIC TWO-POSITION POSTING MECHANISM 7 I 4 No v zs', 11 969 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed March 20, 1968 mm M? E mm mm in FIG. 30

I NVENTOR ROY E. KAN-ITZ ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 25, 1969 R. E. K ANITZ 3,480,343

I 7 AUTOMATIC TWO-POSITION POSTING MECHANISM Filed March 20, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FIG. 6 ROY E; KANITZ ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1969- R, 5 MW: 3,480,343

AUTOMATIC TWO-POSITION POSTING MECHANISM Filed March 20, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR RQY E. KANITZ ATTORNEYS.

FIG, 7

United States Patent 3,480,343 AUTOMATIC TWO-POSITION POSTING MECHANISM Roy E. Kanitz, Williamsville, N.Y., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 714,503 Int. Cl. A47b 81/00, 77/08; A47f 3/08 U.S. Cl. 312223 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An orbital filing cabinet having carrier bins that are movable past a posting table that is variably located at an access opening. A shoot bolt type of latch is placed in a first or a second position corresponding to the position of the posting table. Carrier bin selection buttons control a circuit for moving a selected bin to a point on said orbit that is adjacent the posting table in either of its positions. This is accomplished by placing a multipole double throw table position switch in series circuit between each selection button and the control circuit. The table position switches are operative in accordance with the position of the shoot bolt to cause a selected bin to be located in the access opening corresponding to the posting table position associated with the shoot bolt position.

This invention relates to ofiice record equipment and, more particularly, to a cabinet type of file wherein carrier bins are mounted for orbital travel within the cabinet so that selected carriers are presented in alignment with an access opening in the cabinets front.

Cabinets of the above type frequently have vertically adjustable posting tables. These tables extend across the lower side of the access opening and may be raised either manually or automatically by persons using the file. When it is desired to post invidivual files from a standing position, for example, the posting table is located at a higher position than if the individual files were posted by someone in a sitting position. Because of this variable height of the posting table, it is necessary to deliver a selected carrier bin to a different position for one posting table height than for another. As will now be discussed, various structures have been used to accomplish these purposes in the past.

Usually, the file operator selects a particular carrier bin by depressing a suitable key or button which is then operative to actuate a drive motor to move the selected carrier bin into position. One such arrangement is described in Reissue Patent 25,919, which issued on Nov. 30, 1965, to W. G. Anders. Therein, a row of key buttons are illustrated as being located on the posting table. A slidable indicator strip is located opposite the key buttons so that a number on the indicator strip is opposite each of the key buttons, there being one button number corresponding to each carrier bin. Each button control a particular carrier bin to place it opposite the lower posting table position, but the indicator strip is slidable back and forth so as to put different carrier bin numbers opposite the next adjacent key button when the posting table is in its upper position. In this manner, when the posting table is in its upper position, the indicator strip number is placed opposite the key button corresponding to the next higher carrier bin. Hence, when the posting table is in its upper position, and it is desired that .a particular bin be aligned at the access opening, the operator actually depresses the key button corresponding to the next higher numbered carried bin.

The Reissue Patents structure has the effect, however,

"ice

of changing the keyboard format each time that the posting table height is changed, which makes it very difiicult for an operator to memorize the keyboard. It is a primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide a structure whereby selected carried bins are automatically positioned opposite the posting table without requiring that the keyboard format be changed each time the posting table height is altered. 7

US. Patent No. 3,224,825 to Sturgis et al. describes another solution to the problem of aligning a selected carrier bin with a posting table even though the posting tables height is changed. That patent describes a system of switches and relays which are operative in response to the various posting table heights to change the destination of selected carrier bins. That structure has the decided disadvantage however, of requiring two set of operating circuitsone used when the posting table is in its upper position; and another used when the posting table is in its lower position. Consequently, it is another object of this invention to provide a structure for aligning selected carrier bins at variable heights Without the requirement for separate operating circuits.

Some orbital power driven filing cabinets also have power driven posting tables. For example, a jack screw and traveling nut arrangement is sometimes used to automatically transfer the posting table from its lower to its upper position. In those cases, and particularly where relay switches are used to control the destination of selected carrier bins, the operator is not able to move a selected bin into filing position during the time that the posting table is being moved. This is because the posting table must be in one or the other of its working positions in order for power to be delivered to the carrier bin drive mechanisms. Consequently, it is another object of this invention to provide a structure whereby an operator can select a given carrier bin and then move the posting table during the time that the selected carrier bin is being moved into position.

In accordance with the principles of the invention, a means is operative in response to the release of the posting table latching mechanism to position the contacts of a switch that is series connected between each carrier bins selection button and the related circuit for delivering a particular carrier bin to its desired posting position. The posting table latching mechanism is placed in a first position when the posting table is down and in a second position when the posting table is up; and the location of the series connected switch contacts are controlled by the position of the posting table latching mechanism. When the posting table is in its lower position and the latching mechanism is in its first position the series connected switch contacts are placed such that a selected carrier bin is placed into alignment with the posting tables lower position. When the posting table is in its upper position and the latching mechanism is in it second position, the series connected switch contacts are placed such that the selected carrier bin is delivered into alignment with the upper posting table position.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein that same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily intended to be scale, but rather are presented to illustrate the principles of the invention in clear form.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of an orbital filing cabinet showing different positions of the posting table;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the posting table and its coaction with the cabinets frame;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, partially broken away, of the posting tables shoot bolt releasing mechanism;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 3161-30 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a portion of the release mechanism in its fully released position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a portion of the release mechanism when the posting table is in its lower position;

FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram of a control circuit for use in connection with the structure of the invention.

In FIG. 1, a file cabinet includes a front portion 22 having an access opening 24 and a posting table 26 which is vertically movable between an upper stop 30 and a lower stop 28. A plurality of carrier bins 32 are suspended from conveyor chain 34 so that the carriers 32 move up and down by operation of a sprocket 36 which is conventionally driven by a reversible motor. A guide track 38 (shown dotted in FIG. 1) defines a path along which rollers attached to the bins pass. In this manner the carrier bins are suitably adapted for movement through a continuous orbit of travel.

For the file operators convenience, the posting table 26 can be moved to position 26a which is preferably spaced from the lower position by a distance substantially equal to the height of one carrier bin or a multiple thereof. The posting tables lower position is intended for use when the file operator is seated. The posting tables upper position is more convenient when the operator desires to stand. In either position, however, the operator selects a desired carrier bin by depressing a corresponding button from a group of selection buttons 40 located on the posting table 26 (see also FIG. 2).

As is provided by the structure of the invention, a selected carrier bin is delivered to the access opening 24 at a position which is in alignment with the posting table 26 regardless of whether the posting table is in its lower or upper position. Moreover, as will be described shortly, this is accomplished without altering the selection button format or requiring separate control circuits for the upper posting table position on the one hand or the lower posting table position on the other. Furthermore, the posting tables height can be changed while the carrier bins are undergoing their orbital motions.

Referring now to FIG. 2; side rails 42 form a portion of the cabinet 20s frame. The side rails provide Vertical guides for the posting table 26 which is of hollow construction and includes a lower apron portion 44, the side edges 46 of which ride in runner portions 48 of the side rails 42. The horizontal working surface 50' of the table 26 is usually comprised of a light weight material as, for example, plastic or wood and is of lesser width than the apron portion. The cabinets upper front panel 22 (FIG. 1) is also vertically slidable in the rail runners 48 so as to be slid downwardly against the horizontal surface 50 of the posting table where it may be locked into position by any suitable means not shown. In this manner, the cabinets access opening 24 can be conveniently closed and locked.

The posting table is conventionally equipped with some type of counterbalancing mechanism (not illustrated) to assist in maintaining the posting tables position and to render it easier for the operator to move the posting table assembly up and down. A suitable equalizer structure of this type is more fully described in Reissue Patent 25,919.

The posting table assembly also includes a pair of shoot bolts 52 and 54 which act as locking elements and project into suitable holes such as 56 and 57 in the rail runners 48. That is, when the posting table is in its raised position, the shoot bolts extend into the upper holes 56 while the shoot bolt locks engage the lower holes 57 when the posting table is in its lower position. For reasons 4 to be described more fully shortly, a bracket 58 is located on the outside of the left hand rail runner 48 opposite the lower shoot bolt holes 57 (FIGS. 2 and 3a). This bracket prevents the shoot bolt from extending as far through the lower left hand shoot bolt hole 57 than it does through the other shoot bolt holes.

As shown in FIG. 3, a shoot bolt lock release mechanism 60 is located on the underside of the posting table 26 (see also FIG. 1). When it is desired to change the posting tables position, the operator pulls handle I 62 outwardly to release the shoot bolts so that the posting table can be moved within the rail runners 48. The mechanism by which the shoot bolts are released will now be described.

The release handle is slidably mounted under the posting table by means of brackets 64 and 66 or the like so as to be slidable back and forth in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3. A transverse slot 68 is cut across the shoot bolt release handle and serves to slidably accommodate an L-shaped release lever 70. As is shown more clearly in FIG. 4, one leg 72 of the release lever extends upwardly through the slot 68 of the release handle 65. The other leg 74 of the release lever is suitably fastened to a collar 76 which is mounted near the upper end of a shaft 78. The shaft 78, in turn, is rotatably mounted at its upper end in a bracket 80 which is afiixed to the underside of the posting tables horizontal portion 50. The other end of the shaft 78 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 82 which is aflixed to a support member 84 and located behind the apron 44 (FIG. 2). Thrust washers 86 are affixed to the shaft 78 on opposite sides of the bracket 80 to prevent the shaft 78 from undergoing appreciable axial motion.

A switch actuator block 88 is located on end 72 of the lever 70 by means of retaining elements 90; and a table position switch assembly 92 is mounted on the upper surface of the release handle 65 adjacent the switch actuator block 88. Basically this assembly is comprised of a set of make-before-break multipole double throw switches. In this manner, motion of the switch actuator 88 to the right in FIG. 4 depresses a row of switch buttons 94 whose purpose will be described more fully later. In any event, as the release handle is moved back and forth, its slot 68 forces leg 72 of the lever 70 (and switch actuator 88) to move to the right and left in FIGS. 3 and 4. This motion of the lever 70 causes collar 76 and shaft 78 to rotate.

A dual crank 95 functions as a bellcrank and 'has two arms 96 and 97 affixed to the lower end of shaft 78. The bellcranks arms 96 and 97 have apertures 98 and 100, respectively, located at the outer portions thereof for accommodating relatively short bent arms 102 and 104 of the shoot bolts 52 and 54. Brackets 106 and 108 are alfixed to support 84 and slidably retain the inner ends of the shoot bolts 52 and 54 as shown. Springs 110 and 112 extend from the outer portions of the dual crank arms 96 and 97 to the brackets 106 and 108. In this manner, the shoot bolts 52 and 54 are biased outwardly into the shoot bolt holes 56 and 57 (FIG. 2).

When the shoot bolt release handle 62 is pulled out by the operator the lever 70 moves to the left in FIG. 5 and causes the shaft 78 to rotate in a clockwise direction so that shoot bolt 52 is moved to the right by its crank arm 96; and shoot bolt 54 is moved to the left by its crank arm 97. The shoot bolts, therefore, are retracted from the shoot bolt holes so that the operator can change the posting tables position with the assistance of the counterbalancing mechanism (not shown). At this time, the switch actuator 88 is all the way to the left in FIG. 5 and the multiple double throw table position switches 92 remain in their unactuated or first position.

If it is assumed that the posting table is in its lower position, and the release handle is permitted to return inwardly, the shoot bolts extend outwardly through the lower holes 57 until the left hand shoot bolt 52 strikes the bracket 58 (FIG. 3a). This bracket is located so as to prevent the shoot bolt from undergoing the full extent of travel that it undergoes when extending through its upper shoot bolt hole 56. When the end of shoot bolt 52 abuts the bracket 58, the shaft 78 is rotated into the position illustrated in FIG. 4 so that lever 70 is about in the middle of the release handles slot 68. In this position switch buttons 94 remain undepressed and the multipole double throw switches of the switch assembly 92 remain unactuated.

If the posting table is moved into its upper position and the release handle moved inwardly, the shoot bolts move fully outwardly through the upper shoot bolt holes 56 as is shown in FIG. 2. At that time, the shaft 78 is rotated by the dual crank arm 95 into the position illustrated in FIG. 6; and the switch actuator 88 is moved to its rightmost position by lever 70 so that the buttons 94 are depressed and the table position switches are actuated.

Having described the more mechanical aspects of the invention, its related electrical circuit will now be described with a view toward pointing out the significance of the above described structure upon the inventions ability to permit selected carrier bins to be moved in alignment with the posting table no matter whether the table is in its upper or lower position.

The FIG. 7 wiring diagram includes a plurality of series connected double throw switches 120-1, 120-2, 1203 120-12. Each of these switches corresponds to and is actuated by depression of one of the selector buttons 40 on the posting table (FIGS. 1 and 2). That is, when one of the buttons 40 is depressed, its corresponding switch contact is placed in a lower position against an associated terminal post 122. In this respect, the buttons 40 are of a well-known type wherein an individual button remains in a depressed position until such time as it is automatically released by subsequent depression of another button. Each of the contact posts 122 is series connected to an input terminal 124 of a corresponding one of the double throw table position switches 92. These switches are illustrated in FIG. 7 as being changed between output terminals 126 and 128 by means of a schematically illustrated element 94' corresponding to one of the switch buttons 94 in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. 7

Each of the output terminals 126 and 128 is connected to a related brush 130 of a commutator assembly 132. The commutator assembly has an outer ring 134 and an inner ring 136 which are connected together by a jumper line 138. The outer ring also has an insulator block 140 mounted thereon.

A motor relay brush 142 contacts the inner ring 136 and is connected by a line 144 to one side of a motor relay 146 which controls contacts 148 in circuit with a power source 150 and a motor 152 which synchronously drives both the carrier bins and the commutator rings. In this resepct, for purposes of simplicity, the motor is described and illustrated as being of a unidirectional type, but it should be understood that a conventional motor for a power driven file cabinet is usually of a reversible type. Similarly, the commutator assembly 132 is usually more complex than the one illustrated. That is, preferably it should be of the type which causes a reversible motor to move a selected carrier bin in a direction (clockwise or counterclockwise in FIG. 1) so as to result in the shortest path of travel to the cabinets access opening.

Assume, for purposes of illustration, that the posting table is in its lowermost position in FIG. 1 and the operator desires to have carrier bin 3 brought to the access opening into alignment with posting table 26. At this time the shoot bolt 52 abuts bracket 58 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 3A); the shaft 78 is rotated into its FIG. 4 position; the switch actuator 88 is centrally located with respect to the slot 68; the buttons 94 are not depressed; and the contacts of switches 92 are against terminals 128 as is illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 7.

To cause motion of the 3 carrier bin in the desired manner the operator depresses the 3 selector button on the posting table button panel 40. This moves the contact of switch -3 in FIG. 7 into engagement with its terminal 122 to complete a circuit from a power source 154 through the series connected switches 120-1, 120-2 and 120-3; to terminal 122-3 and post 124 of table position switch 92-3. Current is then directed across the switch contact to terminal 1283 and on to line 156 which connects to brush 130-3b. Current from this brush passes through outer commutator ring 134, jumper line 138, inner ring 136, brush 142, line 144 and through the motor relay 146 to ground. Actuation of the motor relay 146 causes the contacts of switch 148 to close and deliver power from source 150 to motor 152 for synchronously driving both the drive sprocket 36 (FIG. 1) and the commutator assembly 132 until such time as the insulator segment on the outer commutator ring 134 is located under brush 3b. At this time, by virtue of their synchronous drive, carrier bin 3 is positioned opposite the posting tables lower position.

Assume now that the operator desires to move the posting table to its upper position. In doing so the operator pulls the release handle 62 to retract the shoot bolts 52 and 54 from their respective holes and moves the posting table upwardly until a shoulder thereof strikes stop 30. The operator then releases handle 62 so that the springs 110 and 112 force the shoot bolts fully outwardly through the upper shoot bolt holes 56. As this occurs the shaft 78 is turned to its full counterclockwise position in FIG. 6 so that the lever 70 and the switch actuator 88 move all the way in right in FIG. 6 to depress the buttons 94 of the table position switches 92. At this time the contacts of switches 92 move into engagement with terminals 126 as shown in full lines in FIG. 7. In this respect it should be noted that the upper terminals 126 are connected by suitable lines to the next higher numbered brush 130 than the number of the selector button 40 with which the particular switch 92 is series connected. In this manner, as will now be described, although the operator depresses the same selector button that was pressed when the posting table was in its lower position, the selected carrier bin is nevertheless delivered into alignment with the posting tables upper position. Moreover, no additional circuitry is required to accomplish this result.

In connection with the posting table being placed in its upper position, assume that the operator again selects bin number 3 to be aligned opposite the posting table in the access opening 24. Up to terminal 124 of switch 92-3 the circuit is the same as was described above. At this time, however, the related contact of the double throw table position switch has been moved upwardly to terminal 126-3 so as to now complete a circuit through line 158 to brush 4b and through the commutator and motor relay as described above. Hence, the motor drives the sprocket wheel 36 (FIG. 1) and the commutator rings until the insulator segment 140 comes under brush 4b at which time carrier bin 4 is opposite the vacated lower posting table position and carrier bin 3 is aligned opposite the posting tables upper position as desired.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above described structure provides a power driven filing cabinet where a selected carrier bin is delivered to the position where the posting table is located at any given time. Moreover, it will be noted that this is accomplished without a corresponding change in the format of the carrier selection buttons. In this manner, the operator can memorize the keyboard and view the subject matter that is to be filed without having to look at the keyboard during each filing operation. In this respect, it is estimated that a filing clerks efficiency is increased by about 15% if the operator is not required to continually refer to the keyboard. In addition, because of the make-beforebreak nature of the table position switches, the above described structure permits the operator to select a given carrier bin and, while the carrier is moving into alignment with the posting table, move the posting table to a new height without stopping the movement of the carrier bin.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, For example, although the invention has been described in connection with a filing cabinet having twelve vertically moving carrier bins it is equally as applicable to filing cabinets having different numbers of bins which may even move horizontally. Similarly, it would be well within the contemplation of one skilled in the art to add additional override circuits to permit continuous and reversible actuation of the motor 152.

I claim:

1. In an orbital filing cabinet of the type in which a plurality of carrier bins are movable by a drive means in an orbit so that said carrier bins are moved in seriatim to an access opening in a side of said cabinet, said cabinet having a posting table movable between a first and a second posting table position so that items can be filed into said bins from said posting table when said table is in either said first or second position, the combination comprising:

a latch means for latching said posting table in said first and second positions;

said latch means including a locking element having a first locking position corresponding to said first posting table position and a second locking position corresponding to said second posting table position;

a release mechanism for releasing said locking element of said latch means so that said posting table can be moved between said first and second positions;

a control circuit for controlling said drive means to locate said carrier bins with respect to said access opening;

selectively operable devices associated with each of said carrier bins and arranged in a particular format for selectively energizing said control circuit; and

switching means opeative in response to the position of said locking element for modifying said control circuit to locate said carrier bins to different positions of said access opening adjacent said posting table positions without requiring either a change in the format of said selectively operable devices, or separate control circuits for each of said table positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a power source and wherein said control circuit includes a commutator that is synchronously driven with said carrier bins and an associated brush corresponds to each bin.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said selectively operable devices are adapted to direct power from said source to said switching means; and wherein:

said switching means is operative:

(i) when said locking element is in said first position to direct power from said source to a first of said brushes corresponding to the selected carrier bin; and

(ii) when said locking element is in said second position to direct power from said source to a second of said brushes corresponding to carrier bin adjacent the selected carrier bin; and

said commutator is in circuit with said drive means so that power from said source is selectively directed to said drive means through said first brush when said posting table is in said first position and through said second brush when said posting table is in said second position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cabinet has openings in a frame thereof to accommodate said locking element and wherein said locking element is a shoot bolt adapted to extend through said openings in said frame; and

including a means on said frame for altering the depth to which said shoot bolt extends; and

wherein said switching means is placed in said first or second step position in accordance with the depth of such extension.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a power source and wherein said control circuit includes a commutator that is synchronously driven with said carrier bins and an associated brush corresponds to each bin.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said selectively operable devices are adapted to direct power from said source to said switching means; and wherein:

said switching means is operative:

(i) when said locking element is in said first position to direct power from said source to a first of said brushes corresponding to the selected carrier bin; and

(ii) when said locking element is in said second position to direct power from said source to a second of said brushes corresponding to a carrier bin adjacent the selected carrier bin; and

said commutator is in circuit with said drive means so that power from said source is selectively directed to said drive means through said first brush when said posting table is in said first position and through said second brush when said posting table is in said second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said shoot bolt has a locking end and a release end and including:

a bellcrank mechanism attached to the release end of said shoot bolt; and

wherein said release mechanism is operative to rotate said bellcrank to effect the locking and unlocking of said shoot bolt.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including a means for biasing said bellcrank in a direction tending to urge said shoot bolt into said frame opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said release mech anism is comprised of:

a release slide slidable between a first and a second position;

a transverse slot in said release slide;

a lever means having a first end connected to said bellcrank and a second end extending through said release slot so that said second end moves from a first lever position when said release slide is in said first release slide position, to a second lever position when said release slide is in said second release slide position;

a switching means actuator located on the portion of said lever extending through said release slot; and

said switching means being operative in response to motion of said switching means actuator so as to be in a first switch position when said lever is in said first lever position, but in a second switch position when said lever is in said second lever position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said release slide also has a third position, said release slide being in said first position when said shoot bolt is only partially extended into said frame opening, and in said second position when said shoot bolt is fully extended through said frame opening and in said third position when said shoot bolt is unlocked.

11. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said switching means is comprised of multipole double throw switches for modifying said control circuit to locate said carrier bin to different positions of the access opening adjacent said posting table in accordance with the position of said shoot bolt and thereby said posting table.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 including a power source and wherein said control circuit includes a commutator that is synchronously driven with said carrier bins and an associated brush corresponds to each bin.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each of said switches is operative:

(i) when said locking element is in said first position to direct power from said source to a first of said 9 brushes corresponding to the selected carrier bin; and

(ii) when said locking element is in said second position to direct power from said source to a second of said brushes corresponding to a carrier bin adjacent the selected carrier bin; and

said commutator is in circuit with said drive means so that power from said source is selectively directed to said drive means through said first brush when said posting table is in said first position and through said second brush when said posting table is in said second position.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said shoot bolt has a locking end and a release end and including:

a bellcrank mechanism attached to the release end of said shoot bolt; and

wherein said release mechanism is operative to rotate said bellcrank to effect the locking and unlocking of said shoot bolt.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 including a means for biasing said bellcrank in a direction tending to urge said shoot bolt into said frame opening.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said release mechanism is comprised of:

a release slide slidable between a first and a second position;

a transverse slot in said release slide;

a lever means having a first end connected to said bellcrank and a second end extending through said release slot so that said second end moves from a first lever position when said release slide is in said first release slide position, to a second lever position when said release slide is in said second release slide position;

a switch actuator located on the portion of said lever 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said release slide also has a third position, said release slide being in said first position when said shoot bolt is only partially extended into said frame opening, and in said second position when said shoot bolt is fully extended through said frame opening, and in said third position when said shoot bolt is unlocked.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, including a power source and wherein said control circuit includes a commutator that is synchronously driven with said carrier bins and an associated brush corresponds to each bin.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein each of said switches is of the make-before-break type and is operative:

(i) when said locking element is in said first position to direct power from said source to a first of said brushes corresponding to the selected carrier bin; and

(ii) when said locking element is in said second position to direct power from said source to a second of said brushes corresponding to a carrier bin adjacent the selected carrier bin; and

said commutator is in circuit with said drive means so that power from said source is selectively directed to said drive means through said first brush when said posting table is in said first position, and through said second brush when said posting table is in said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,919 11/1965 Anders 312223 3,105,727 1/1963 Anders 3 l2223 3,224,825 12/1965 Sturgis et al. 3 l2223 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 312-269 

